A small horsepower bump is just one of many small changes in this mid-cycle refresh

by
Neil Vorano | July 25, 2016

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More power. When it comes to the sports car world, those are magic words, and you can almost never get enough. So when Subaru says it’s added power to its oddball in the lineup, the sporty BRZ rear-drive coupe, you’re bound to get excited.

Well, let’s just hold off on that fireworks display; there’s a very slight five horsepower added to the 200 hp that was had from its 2.0-litre boxer four cylinder; an extra five lb.-ft. of torque is tacked on to the original 151, so there will be no newfound lighting up of tires or sub-four second acceleration times, sorry. Does it matter? To some, it will. To others, raw power isn’t exactly what this car is about. They get it; this is an affordable coupe with style that’s fun to drive hard. You like to shift gears? You’ll be doing plenty of it in the BRZ.

And this small jump in power typifies the numerous small changes Subaru has done to this mid-model refresh of the only rear-drive car in its stable. The BRZ – direct sibling to the Toyota 86, née Scion FR-S – debuted in 2013 to rave reviews from purists, citing its low centre of gravity, light weight, stellar handling and affordable price. And the 2017 model changes only make the car better.

2017 Subaru BRZ

Aesthetically, it has a new front bumper, new alloy wheels that are stiffer than the previous versions and a new wing spoiler that adds more downforce than the last design while also looking more boy-racer-ish. Full LED headlights and tail lights are also new. Inside features new trim and materials, a new multifunction display on the Sport-tech trim with performance information, and a rearview camera is now standard across the board.

The upgraded power isn’t the only performance improvement, either. Suspension has been retuned both front and rear, with new bushings, spring rates and dampening tuning. It’s slightly softer than the Toyota version, but handling is still sharp. And if you want to really hoon it like you stole it, the new Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) Track mode unleashes the stability control so you can hang your rear end out around turns before getting too unwound, when it pulls the car back in. And in enthusiastic testing (read: hooning) around the Vancouver Island Motorsport Park, it’s clear this system really works. In fact, it gives more leeway in sideways dynamics than any other car I’ve tested.

Yes, it does feel underpowered at times. The thing about the power is not just that the numbers are on the lower side, but more that they come to full fruition at lofty engine revs; it takes a whopping 7,000 rpm to reach the full 205 hp, while that 156 lb.-ft. of torque is found at 6,800 rpm; clearly, what the BRZ needs isn’t just more power, but finding it sooner in the rev range. On track, that’s not as big a problem, as you keep the engine buzzing while rowing through the six-speed gearbox; on the street, it’s much more noticeable. A lack of power has long been the complaint about the BRZ (and its Scion/Toyota brethren), and this mild bump doesn’t make that big a difference.

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But wait; is Subaru planning more oomph for the future? Two curious changes to the 2017 model are a strengthened engine block and beefed-up differential mounts; company officials state that it’s just to adjust to the “higher” power, but it seems a bit excessive for a mid-cycle refresh. Your guess on the future of the 2.0-litre boxer is as good as mine; a supercharger, perhaps?

The suspension upgrades just add to the fun on track; the car stays relatively flat, seems to corner on its axis with ease and balance and offers razor sharp steering. What doesn’t match the rest of the car’s performance on track are the stock Michelin Primacy HP tires, which chirped their discontent around every corner; if you want serious track time in this car, a stickier set of tires is a must. And that’s the thing about the BRZ — the car is a good base for performance, with the handling, looks and engine setup; the enthusiasts who buy the car often opt for various aftermarket performance upgrades how they see fit, be it a set of tires, a new exhaust, a computer chip or other add-ons. There is a serious market for upgrades, and a serious community online for BRZ enthusiasts. This is a car (along with the FR-S/86) that has developed quite a cult following.

And I can see why. With a starting price of $27,995 and a final price of $31,195 for the top-tier Sport-tech with a six-speed automatic transmission (which works very well, by the way), there’s really no other coupe out there (besides the Toyota twin, of course) that matches the handling and style of the BRZ at this price point. The coupe is a small part of Subaru’s overall market in Canada – they sold just under 1,000 last year and are on target for about the same in 2016 – but the BRZ remains important in continuing the company’s sporting heritage.

Can you imagine if Subaru offered a 300-horsepower supercharged version? You wouldn’t see the road from the skid marks.